Hokule‘a open for public tours in Waianae

The Hokule‘a will be available for public tours, school visits and educational outreach in Waianae for the next two weeks as part of its Mahalo Hawai‘i Sail.

More than 1,000 West Oahu residents greeted the Hokule‘a and Hikianalia at Pokai Bay Saturday, with cultural ceremonies and recognition of Buffalo Keaulana, fondly known as “Uncle Buffalo,” as a world-class waterman and original 1976 crew member.

Gov. David Ige, Mayor Kirk Caldwell and Polynesian Voyaging Society president Nainoa Thompson participated in a special ceremony honoring Keaulana, noting his lifelong contributions to the people of the Waianae Coast, along with Sen. Maile Shimabukuro, Rep. Cedric Asuega Gates and Rep. Andria Tupola.

The University of Hawaii has also created the Buffalo Keaulana Endowed Scholarship Fund to support students from the Waianae Coast pursuing studies at any of its campuses.

The West Oahu community is invited to learn about the recent Malama Honua Worldwide Voyage and its mission of promoting cultural and environmental stewardship. Community canoe tours and school visits are available (by appointment only) from today through Friday and Dec. 18 to 21.

The Hokule‘a is scheduled to depart Pokai Bay Dec. 21 to return to the Marine Education Training Center at Sand Island in preparation for its next stop on the Mahalo Hawai‘i Sail.

Visit hokulea.com/events for a full schedule of events.

Maui

Police seek community’s help to rein in illegal fireworks

With New Year’s around the corner, Maui residents are complaining over social media about loud booms in their neighborhoods, which are irritating residents and frightening children and pets.

The Maui News reports local residents are calling for a stop to illegal fireworks.

Maui police spokesman Lt. Gregg Okamoto says it is going to take the entire community to help police crack down on illegal fireworks. But Okamoto says “officers need to witness the violation in order to issue citations.”

Fire officials, too, say they need to view the violation to bring charges. Fire Services Chief Edward Taomoto said people need to report their neighbors if they witness illegal fireworks.

Hawaii island

Some UH executives to get merit-based raises

Nearly a dozen executive and managerial employees at the University of Hawaii at Hilo and Hawaii Community College will get merit-based raises effective Jan. 1.

The raises will be awarded to six UH-Hilo employees and four at HCC, the Hawaii Tribune-Herald reports. They’re funded with a portion of $800,000 in state-authorized money for salary increases for state officers and employees excluded from collective bargaining, but associated with the unit representing faculty.

UH salary adjustments were posted in materials provided at a Board of Regents committee meeting last week.

Campuswide, at least 91 of 545 UH-Hilo employees earn more than $100,000 per year, though the actual number is likely higher because employees represented by the Hawaii Government Employees Association are required to report only earning ranges.

At HCC, at least 14 of 229 employees earn more than $100,000 per year.